Bonds set in prostitution arrests of Wisconsin women

Bridget DoyleTribune reporter

Two Wisconsin women have been charged with human trafficking and involuntary sexual servitude of a minor after an undercover sting by River Grove police earlier this week.

Elizabeth Roeder, 33, of Milwaukee, and Shannon Hathaway, 41, of Stoughton, Wis., were given a court date of April 16 by Judge Laura Sullivan in Cook County bond court Saturday. Roeder was held on $150,000 bond and Hathaway on $175,000 bond.

The two women were arrested April 10 when an undercover officer responded to an advertisement for prostitution and asked for Roeder, the prosecutor said. During the transaction, Roeder had a 17-year-old woman take her place, negotiated a price with the undercover officer and took the cash.

Both women were found in possession of credit cards, cash, computers and cell phones while the teenage woman had none of these items, the prosecutor said.

The 17-year-old woman the two were charged with trafficking for sexual services was dating Roeder's teenage son, the prosecutor said. Roeder transported the teenager from Wisconsin to Illinois.

Both women admitted to knowing the girl was a minor, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said each of the women posted advertisements online and booked rooms at motels. The cell phone number listed on the advertisement was Roeder's.

Roeder has seven previous misdemeanor charges including a 2011 battery, the prosecutor said Saturday.